Where does “tragedy” come from?
Tragedy derives from Middle English tragedie, from Old French tragedie, from Latin tragoedia, from Ancient Greek τραγῳδία, literally "goat song," from τράγος (goat) and ἀοιδός (song), ultimately from the Proto-Indo-European root terh₁-.
tragedy (English): A drama or similar work, in which the main...
Definitions
- A drama or similar work, in which the main...
Ancestry of “tragedy”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Middle English | tragedie | — |
| 2 | Old French | tragedie | — |
| 3 | Latin | tragoedia | tragedy |
| 4 | Ancient Greek | τραγῳδία | a tragedy or heroic play; any grave, serious... |
| 5 | Ancient Greek | τραγῳδός | tragic performer |
| 6 | Ancient Greek | ἀοιδός | musical; singer, minstrel, bard; enchanter |
| 7 | Ancient Greek | ἀείδω | To sing, chant, praise; To make various noises:... |
| 8 | Proto-Hellenic | awéidō | to sing |
Words derived from “tragedy”